Billy Joel offered a magnificent farewell to the Shea Stadium on Friday during a sold-out concert that represented the final performance held at the same ballpark where the legendary Beatles initiated a new era of rock 'n' roll approximately forty years ago.

The crowd of 55,000 people gathered at the New York Mets’ home field not only to see Billy Joel perform, but to take part in the last concert organized on the stadium, which is to be demolished after the end of the baseball season in order to make way for a new arena across the street.

The show aimed to pay homage to Shea's baseball triumphs and “Zanzibar” was accompanied by Mets highlights playing on oversized screens.  However, the concert also celebrated the stadium's significant role in music history.

The "Last Play at Shea" started the ball rolling on Wednesday with the first of two Billy Joel shows at the ballpark, plus a complex presentation of the Beatles and baseball. In addition to this, Joel performed three Beatles songs ("A Hard Day's Night," "Please, Please Me" and "She Loves You") in his Wednesday act and launched his famous signature "Piano Man" with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." What’s more, the singer even played the national anthem at the beginning of the concert.

As if having Billy Joel on stage and holding the last concert at the stadium wasn't stimulating enough, special guests boosted the thrill level even more. On Wednesday, Tony Bennett sang "New York State of Mind" with the Piano Man. John Mellencamp also appeared on stage to perform his hit "Pink House," and Don Henley played his classic "Boys of Summer."

However, the crowd went absolutely crazy when Paul McCartney joined Billy Joel on stage on Friday night. “It’s so cool to be back here on the last night,” he said. “Been here a long time ago — we had a blast that night, and we’re having another one tonight.”

Christie Brinkley, the former model, also attended her ex-husband’s exhilarating show. Sitting about 10 rows away from the stage, the fans took photos of her just before the kick off of the concert.